Nebraska Democratic Party: Grassroots Academy Wrap-Up: Omaha

Grassroots Academy Wrap-Up: Omaha

Oct 19, 09:34 AM CST

Even though it was a rainy Thursday evening, Democratic activists and party leaders gathered at the IBEW Union Hall in Omaha to discuss our party’s 2008 field strategy, the political landscape, and the Presidential caucus. The event was the fourth in a series of eight Grassroots Academy sessions being held around the state.

Make no mistake about it, the Democratic Party in Nebraska is preparing for the 2008 Elections right now.

Here are a few photos from Thursday’s event:

State Chair Steve Achelpohl welcomes the group

Ian discusses the “Lay of the Land” in the Omaha area

Eric explains the caucus process

The crowd listens intently

A caucus preference group sizes up the other groups

A caucus group leader stumps for her Presidential preference

Thanks to everyone who joined us last night. And a special thanks to our friends at the IBEW for allowing us to use their hall.

If you missed last night’s event and would like to know what we covered, don’t hesitate to contact me.

– by Catherine Leo | Send this to a friend

Good job NDP! Very informative!
— Mike Nellis Oct 19, 10:10 AM CST #
I came away from last night’s meeting both hopeful and pissed off. Come to think of it, that’s been my attitude toward the party for the last few years. First let me say thanks to all the lecturers. You did great and I learned a lot. I hope Eric didn’t feel bad if I and some others looked bored, since we had already gone through his presentation at the caucus training. I am very pleased with the ground strategy laid out at last night’s meeting, and I am excited about all the young fresh folks who will be leading the charge next year.

From what I heard last night, it seems our state party, like our armies in Iraq, is suffering from a crisis of leadership at the top. Last night my worries started when Steve Achepol started his speech by telling us all about the sacrifices he has made, working 60 hours a week as a lawyer and dealing with a wife who was not too happy he accepted his current position as chairman. He made being a Democratic activist sound like drudgery. This to me does not seem like the way to get new activists looking forward to the coming election season.

What really irked me was the news that the NDP has not found a challenger for the 2nd district congressional seat. Let me get this straight. The GOP is on the ropes nationwide, Lee Terry is probably in his most vulnerable position ever, and we don’t have a candidate?

Almost as annoying was the collective drooling over Bob Kerrey, a man who has gone out of his way to act as an apologist for the right wing extremists who brought us the Iraq war and, that having gone so well, are hard at work on the sequel. It seems pretty obvious that the party isn’t interested in finding anyone else who might want to run for Hagel’s seat.

Does the Democratic Party really need another Joe Liebermann in the Senate?
— Don Kuhns Oct 19, 10:20 PM CST #
Be careful Don, you’re starting to sound like others of us that have voiced our opinions on these matters before you. Next thing you know it will be you that is blamed for all that is amiss.
— Brian T. Osborn Oct 22, 02:29 PM CST #
I want to highlight something that Don mentioned in his post that I hope does not get overlooked.

He says, “I am very pleased with the ground strategy laid out at last night’s meeting.”

There are many others excited about it too. When I left the meeting, I was very pleased with the number of people who agreed that they wanted to be a part of our new ground strategy, including Don.

I think we should give this a try first, before we get into blaming people.

I’d like to hear people’s thoughts on how they plan to be a part of implementing this strategy. I have been conversing over e-mail with an activist who has just created a new e-mail address specific to his precinct, and is organizing a house party in his neighborhood. He is using a personal letter and the internet to get people together for his event.

I will report back on how this all works.
— Catherine Leo Oct 22, 02:43 PM CST #
Don, they never said they didn’t have a candidate.

Esch does not want to run and Lathrop isn’t running for obvious reasons. Perhaps White will throw his hat into the ring, but can you blame anyone for not wishing to run in a Presidential year against a mildy popular Congressman.

While I have my issues with the State Party it is in a state of rebuilding and I do see progress.
— Mike Nellis Oct 23, 10:37 AM CST #
Don,

Being a party activist does take a lot of personal sacrifice on the part of the activist.

I think that people should know that upfront. Although
I wasn’t there(I will be attending my county’s Training) I’m sure Steve was joking because I have heard his speel on several occassions.

As for our candidates or lack thereof, We have plenty of time to announce. Let the republican candidates duke it out.

It isn’t just the chairs job to Field candidates as active members of te party it also our job to bring to the party’s attention potential candidates but with all the negatively going around sometimes, if I were a first time visitor wanting to get involved I would run for the hills!

We didn’t get in our current position overnight and it is going to take a few election cycles before we get our party back to where it once was.

I believe that we will be successful. I believe that everyone has something to offer. We just have to remember that everyone is doing this for the purest reasons and that we all with the exception are volunteers and that fact needs to be respected.
— Robin Quarles Oct 23, 09:36 PM CST #